Mabuting Balita | Abril 21, 2022

Huwebes sa Oktaba ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay

Ebanghelyo: Lucas 24: 35-48

Isinalaysay ng dalawang alagad ang nangyari sa daan at kung paano nila siya nakilala sa pagpipiraso ng tinapay. Habang pinag-uusapan nila ang mga ito, tumayo siya mismo sa gitna nila at nagsabi: “Huwag kayong matakot, sumainyo ang kapayapaan!”. Nagulat nga sila at natakot, at akala’y nakakakita sila ng kung anong espiritu. Ngunit sinabi niya sa kanila: “Bakit kayo naliligalig at pumapasok ang pag-aalinlangan sa inyong isipan? “Tingnan ninyo ang aking mga kamay at mga paa, ako nga siya. Hipuin ninyo ako at unawain ninyo na walang laman at mga buto ang isang espiritu, at nakikita ninyo na meron ako.” Matapos masabi ito, ipinakita niya sa kanila ang kanyang mga kamay at paa. Hindi sila makapaniwala sa labis na galak at nagtataka pa rin kaya sinabi niya sa kanila: “May makakain ba kayo rito?” At binigyan nila siya ng isang pirasong inihaw na isda at pulot-pukyutan. Kinuha niya iyon at kumain sa harap nila. Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Sinabi ko na sa inyo ang mga ito nang kasama ninyo ako: kailangang matupad ang lahat ng nasusulat tungkol sa akin sa Batas ni Moises, Mga Propeta at Mga Salmo.” At binuksan niya ang kanilang isipan para maunawaan nila ang mga Kasulatan. Sinabi niya: “Ganito ang nasusulat: kailangang magdusa ang Mesiyas at pagkamatay niya’y buhayin sa ikatlong araw. Sa ngalan niya ipahahayag sa lahat ng bansa ang pagsisisi at ang kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan—sa Jerusalem kayo magsisimula. Kayo ang magiging saksi sa mga ito.”

Pagninilay:

Sa misa sinasabi sa atin ni Hesus sa pamamagitan ng pari: Kapayapaan ang iniiwan ko sainyo. Ang aking kapayapaan ang ibinibigay ko sainyo. Kapayapaan din ang binigay ni Hesus sa kanyang mga apostoles. Shalom ang katumbas nito sa Hebreo. Mahigit na dalawang daan ulit itong mababasa sa Bibliya. Malalim ang pakahulugan nito. Hindi lamang simpleng “peace be with you” o kaya naman pagsasabi ng “hello” at “goodbye” bilang isang pagbati. Ang shalom ay salitang nagpapahiwatig ng isang estado ng kapunuan at pagiging perpekto; nag-uumapaw na kagalakan sa loob at labas at mapayapang katahimikan ng buhay. Ito ang hangarin ni Hesus para sa kanyang mga alagad dahil sa lubhang pinanghihinaan na sila ng loob sapagkat Nakita nilang ipinako at namatay sa krus ang kanilang Guro. Shalom din ang hangarin ni Hesus para sa atin. Alam n iHesus ang mga pinagdaraanan nating pagsubok at kadiliman ng buhay, siya ang ating kanlungan. Siya ang Prinsipe ng Kapayapaan. Ang tunay na kapayapaan ay makakamit lamang sa pamamagitan ng Diyos.

- Fr. Brian Paul, SSP | Society of St. Paul

GOSPEL POWER l APRIL 20, 2022

Wednesday within the Octave  of Easter

Gospel: Lk 24:13-35 

13On that same day two of the disciples were going to a village called  Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each  other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were  talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,  16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to  them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk  along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose  name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in  Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there  in these days?” 19He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The  things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed  and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests  and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified  him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes,  and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took  place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They  were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find  his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen  a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who  were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had  said; but they did not see him.” 25Then he said to them, “Oh, how  foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets  have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer  these things and then enter into his glory?” 27Then beginning with  Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about  himself in all the scriptures. 28As they came near the village to which  they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening  and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.  30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and  broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they  recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each  other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking  to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33That  same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the  eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying,  “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then  they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made  known to them in the breaking of the bread.  T he small dreams and shallow hopes of the disciples of  T he small dreams and shallow hopes of the disciples of  Emmaus regarding a national redemption have to be  thrown into crisis, so that they can be integrated into God’s  immense vision and plans for humanity and the entire creation. The  disciples have pinned their hopes on Jesus, forgetting that it is the  vocation of the entire nation Israel to be the instrument of God’s integral salvation. Now, the risen Christ, who continues to be the  Shepherd who goes after the straying sheep, enlightens them. By  evoking Israel’s Scriptures, the incognito Christ opens their minds  to how Jesus assumed Israel’s vocation to be the Suffering Servant of Yahweh.

Mabuting Balita | Abril 20, 2022

Miyerkules sa Walong Araw na Pagdiriwang ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay

Ebanghelyo: Lucas 24: 13-35

Nang araw ng Linggo, dalawa sa mga alagad ang naglalakad pa-Emmaus na isang nayong mga labinlimang kilometro mula sa Jerusalem. Pinag-uusapan nila ang mga nangyari. Sa kanilang pag-uusap at pagtatalakayan, lumapit si Jesus at nakisabay sa paglakad nila pero parang may kung anong hadlang sa kanilang mga mata at hindi nila siya nakilala. Tinanong niya sila: “Ano ba ang pinag-uusapan ninyo sa daan?” Tumigil silang mukhang malungkot. Sumagot ang isa sa kanila na nagngangalang Cleofas: “Bakit, mukhang ikaw lang ang kaisa-isahan sa Jerusalem na di alam ang mga nangyari roon nitong mga ilang araw?” “Ano?” “Tungkol kay Jesus na taga-Nazaret. Sa paningin ng Diyos at ng buong baya’y isa siyang propetang makapangyarihan sa gawa at salita. Ngunit isinakdal siya ng aming mga punong-pari at mga pinuno para mahatulang mamatay at ipinako siya sa krus. Umaasa pa naman kaming siya ang tutubos sa Israel ngunit ikatlong araw na ngayon mula nang mangyari ang lahat ng ito. “Mga hindi makaunawa at mapupurol ang isip para maniwala sa lahat ng ipinahayag ng mga propeta. Di ba’t kailangang magdusa nang ganito ang Mesiyas bago pumasok sa kanyang luwalhati?” At sinimulan niyang ipaliwanag sa kanila ang lahat ng sinasabi ng Kasulatan tungkol sa kanya, mula kay Moises hanggang sa lahat ng Propeta. Nang malapit na sila sa nayong pupuntahan nila, parang magpapatuloy pa siya ng paglakad. Pero pinilit nila siya: “Manatili kang kasama namin dahil dapithapon na at lumulubog na ang araw.” Kaya pumasok siya at sumama sa kanila. Nang nasa hapag na siyang kasalo nila, kumuha siya ng tinapay, nagpuri at piniraso ito at ibinigay sa kanila. At noo’y nabuksan ang kanilang mga mata at nakilala nila siya, at nawala siya sa kanilang paningin. Nag-usap sila: “Hindi ba’t nag-aalab ang ating puso nang kinakausap niya tayo sa daan at ipinaliliwanag sa atin ang mga Kasulatan?” Noon di’y tumayo sila at nagbalik sa Jerusalem. Nakita nila roon na magkakasama ang Labing-isa at ang iba nilang kasamahan. Sinabi ng mga iyon sa kanila: “Totoo ngang binuhay ang Panginoon at napakita siya kay Simon.” At isinalaysay naman nila ang nangyari sa daan at kung paano nila siya nakilala sa pagpipiraso ng tinapay.

Pagninilay:

Ang paglisan sa Jerusalem at paglalakbay ng dalawang alagad patungong Emmaus ay sumisimbolo sa nauubos na pag-asa, humihinang pananampalataya at pagkawala ng sigasig na ipagpatuloyang misyon ni Hesus. Kaya nga hindi nila agad nakilala si Hesus na kanilang nakasalamuha. Ngunit ang mulingp agkabuhay ng atingPanginoon ay nagdulotsaatin ng mgamahahalagangbiyaya. Binuhaynitoangnamamataynangpag-asa, pinag-alab ang naglalamlam na na pananampalataya, at pinasigla ang pagsasabuhay ng pag-ibig sa mundong nahuhulog sabitag ng pagkamaka-sarili at alitan. Buksan ang puso upang makilalaang Panginoon nakasama natin sa paglalakbay sa buhay.

- Sr. Ma. Janice Golez, PDDM | Pious Disciples of the Divine Master

ST. BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS l PATRON OF THE BODILY ILLNESS

Feast Day: FEBRUARY 18 – APRIL 16

St. Bernadette Soubirous, also known as Bernadette of Lourdes, is among the popular saints in the Church. She was born in Lourdes, Hautes-Pyrenees, kingdom of France, the eldest of nine children, of a miller, on January 7, 1844. Hard times had fallen in France and the family became very poor. As a child she was sickly, contracted cholera during infancy, and had severe asthma all her life. She attended the school conducted by the Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction from Nevers. She could read and write very little due to her illness. On February 11, 1858, when she was 14, she went out to gather firewood with her sister and a friend near the grotto of Massabielle. While the other girls crossed the little stream in front of the grotto and continued to walk on, Bernadette stayed behind, looking for a place where to cross so as not to get wet. While removing her socks and shoes to cross the streams, she suddenly heard the sound of a rushing wind, but when she looked around, nothing was moving, except a wild rose in a niche in the grotto. From the niche came a dazzling light, and a white figure of a small young lady. Then, the lady disappeared. When she told her sister and their companion about it, they said, they saw nothing. Three days after, on February 14, after Sunday Mass, Bernadette and another sister and some girls, returned to the grotto. Bernadette immediately saw the lady and she knelt and fell into a trance, but when one of the girls threw water on the niche and another threw a rock, since they saw nothing, the apparition disappeared. Bernadette visited the grotto another time on February 18 and the lady spoke to her asking her to return to the grotto every day for two weeks. Her mother forbade her, but she went. The lady told her to pray and make penance, but Bernadette never claimed that it was the Virgin Mary, although she described the lady as wearing a white dress, with a blue veil, a blue girdle and a yellow rose on each feet. She was very beautiful, “so lovely that, when you have seen her once, you would willingly die to see her again!” The people were astonished about the stories of Bernadette and some suspected that she was becoming crazy. Yet, many followed her whenever she went to the grotto. On February 25, the lady told her to “drink of the water of the spring, wash her face, and eat the herb” that was growing there, as an act of penance.  Surprisingly, the next day, the muddy water was already clear. Bernadette drank from the water of the stream and ate some herbs. The people were disgusted, since they did not know that they were acts of penance. On March 2 Bernadette told the parish priest that the lady asked to build a chapel, but he told Bernadette to ask the lady’s name. On March 25, Bernadette asked the lady her name. After repeating her request, the lady said in their native language, translated as “I am the Immaculate Conception.” This revelation disturbed the parish priest the more. Bernadette was interviewed by both Church and government, also to see if she was mentally fit, and despite their refusal to believe, Bernadette stuck to what she heard from the lady. After many more investigations, the local Church approved the apparitions in 1862. Because of this Bernadette got so much attention from many people. To avoid this, she entered the convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame at Nevers. On July 29, 1866, she became a postulant, became a novice and after four months, she professed the vows. Bernadette spent her life as assistant in the infirmary, and later as sacristan, and in making embroidery for altar clothes and vestments. She was a model of humility, prayer, obedience, and in the spirit of sacrifice. In 1876, she was present for the consecration of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, built on top of the grotto, which the lady requested.

ST. GEMMA GALGANI l PATRONESS OF STUDENTS AND PHARMACISTS

Feast day: APRIL 11

Our saint for today is an Italian mystic named  St. Gemma Galgani. She is called “Daughter of the Passion” due to her extraordinary love for the Passion and sufferings of Jesus and for her great devotion to the Eucharist. One of her ardent prayers was: “Dear Jesus, I love you so much! I shall endeavor always to love you; I shall live to love you; I shall die to love you.” Gemma was born Maria Umberta Galgani, one among eight children, on March 12, 1878 in Camigliano, Capannori, Italy to a prosperous pharmacist and a devoted wife. Soon after Gemma’s birth, the family moved to a new home in Lucca, Tuscany. Gemma learned to cherish prayer at an early age and loved to think of the Passion of Jesus Christ. At the age of two, she was sent to a private nursery school since her mother contracted tuberculosis, which was incurable at that time. In fact, after five years suffering the disease, she died. Gemma’s brother, who was studying for the priesthood, died also of the same disease. When Gemma was 18 years old, her father died and she became responsible for the upbringing of her younger siblings with the help of an aunt. The Galgani children studied in a Catholic boarding school run by the Sisters of St. Zita. Gemma was an intelligent girl and excelled in music, arithmetic and French. She was quiet but friendly and always had a smile. Her teachers and schoolmates loved her. She refused two marriage proposals as she had earlier given her love to Jesus. According to her confessor, Fr. Germano Ruoppolo, Gemma began to display signs of stigmata (or the wounds of Jesus) when she was twenty-one years old. Fr. Germano told her to ask the Lord to make the wounds invisible and soon, after her request from Jesus the marks on her body disappeared, but she continued to suffer the pains. Gemma revealed to her confessor that Jesus, the Virgin Mary, her Guardian Angel and other saints, in particular St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows talked to her and gave her special messages about the future. Gemma was frequently found in ecstasy. She was also seen up on the air, levitating while in prayer. She claimed that once, when she embraced the Crucifix and was kissing the wound on the side of the Crucified Lord, she found herself raised from the floor. The devil would attack her at times, but Jesus, the Virgin Mary and her Angel would come to shield and comfort her. Gemma got sick of tuberculosis in early 1903. According to one religious nursing sister who attended to her during her last days, they found her to be very unique. “We have cared for many sick people but we have never seen anything like this. At the beginning of Holy Week 1903, her health quickly deteriorated and the suffering increased on Good Friday. She died on April 11, 1903 on Holy Saturday.” She was 25 years old. After her death, the Church began to investigate her life due to the refusal of some people, including one of her sisters, to believe in her mystic life. But her confessor, who even wrote a book about her attested to the holiness of her life, including her stigmata and levitations. Gemma was beatified on May 14, 1933 and was canonized on May 2, 1940. She is venerated by the Passionists Order and her relics are housed in the Passionist monastery in Lucca, Italy. She is the patroness of students, pharmacists, those who lost their parents, those sick from back injury, those struggling against temptations of impurity. She is also called “Passion Flower of Lucca” as her townmates from Lucca, Italy loved and admired her. “St. Gemma Galgani, pray for us that we may learn to love Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and receive Him often with a pure and clean heart.” Do I believe that Jesus is present in the tabernacle in all churches? Am I respectful and well-behaved when inside the church?

ST. PATRICK l PATRON SAINT OF IRELAND

Feast Day: MARCH 17

Among Christianity’s most famous saints is St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. He is venerated by Catholics, and by non-Catholic religions in many parts of the world, and is remembered pompously by a celebration they call ST. PATRICK’S DAY. He is credited with bringing Christianity to the Irish people and to the Anglo-Saxons and Picts. St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain. Little is known about his family and his childhood, except that he was born about 386 A.D, his father was a deacon of high social standing, and his mother Conchessa, was closely related to St. Martin of Tours, but Patrick as a youth was not himself a great believer. In his writings, he revealed that at the age of sixteen, he was captured by Irish pirates, was brought to Ireland, and there he worked as a slave for six years. While in captivity, he was tasked to care for the sheep staying most of the time in the open fields. This sad situation brought him closer to God. He learned how to pray and was converted to Christianity. In his book Confession, Patrick said that while he was a captive, “The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith and my soul was roused so that, in a single day, I said as many as hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and in the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow, or ice or rain.” After six years of captivity, he heard a voice telling him to go back to Britain. He escaped from his master and walked long miles to a port where there was a ship leaving for Britain, but he had great difficulty in persuading the captain to let him in. After sailing for three days, he and the other men in the boat landed in a wilderness and walked again to find civilization. Once at home, he tried to study more about Christianity. He studied for the priesthood in Auxerre, France and was ordained a priest and in 432 was consecrated Bishop. He was sent by Pope Celestine I to Ireland as a missionary. Upon arriving Ireland, he was not welcomed by the people but he managed to spread Christianity far and wide. Although he gave gifts to the rulers of the place, he never accepted any gifts from them nor from the people. He recognized the pagan-oriented practices of the Irish people and incorporated them into Christian practices. He created councils, founded monasteries and organized Ireland into dioceses. Writing about his mission, St. Patrick said that he baptized thousands of people, ordained priests for the new Christian communities. He converted wealthy women, some of whom became nuns despite the oppositions of their families. He convinced widows and widowers to become chaste and serve their neighbors in need. He traveled to many parts of the island, finding many difficulties, especially with the ruling elite. But he was able to convert sons of kings and obtained the protection of local kings.Saint Patrick died in Saul, Ireland in 461 and is said to have been buried in the nearby town called Downpatrick, County Down. There are several legends about St. Patrick and one legend credits him with showing the people the shamrock, a three-leafed plant to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity. Since then, the shamrock became a central symbol for St. Patrick in the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. St. Patrick’s Day is believed to be the date he died. The Day became a feast in the Catholic Church due to the influence of a Franciscan scholar Luke Wading, a member of the commission for the reform of the Breviary in the early part of the 17th century. He is also the patron saint of Nigeria and ofengineers. St. Patrick had a breastplate worthy of being adopted by all believers: “Christ with me, Christ before me,Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left.

ST. JOHN OF GOD l  PATRON OF HOSPITALS, NURSES AND SICK PEOPLE

Feast Day: MARCH 8

Have you heard about the Hospitaller Brothers? Religious men who take care of the sick and psychiatric patients? Friends, we are presenting today St. John of God, the founder of that institution and whom the Church proclaimed as the patron of hospitals, nurses, the sick and a few other things attributed to him. John was born Joao Cidade Duarte on March 8, 1495. At the age of seven, Joao left his home, to help an old mendicant monk beg money, food and clothing for the sick and needy, but he got ill, lost his way home and was adopted by a family who employed him as a shepherd until he was 27 years old. He then joined the Spanish army, and went to France for the battle, but his companions disliked him because, although he had still many imperfections, he behaved gentlemanly, not like them. He was falsely accused and was sentenced to be hanged, but some officers testified in his favor and he was instead dismissed from the army.He went back to Spain and became a shepherd again. At age 38, he decided to work in Africa to ransom the slaves, but was not successful. He returned to Spain, settled in Granada and became a peddler of secular books. When he heard a sermon from St. John of Avila, who later became his spiritual director, he started to give away those books and all his money and began to beg alms for the needy. People insulted him and tried to throw mud at him, thinking that he was getting mad. Some good fellow brought him to the hospital for the mentally ill. He was put in a dirty dungeon with tied hands and feet. St. John of Avila visited him and asked to bring him to a decent room in the hospital. After a short while, Joao began helping to care for the sick in that hospital and the employees were glad for his generous service. But they were startled when he told them that he was going to start his own hospital. It was God himself who revealed to him that he had to care for the sick and the abandoned, and his new name was Juan de Dios (John of God). After praying before Our Lady of Guadalupe, he started again to beg. Knowing of his plan, many good people began helping him so he was able to rent a small house for a few homeless and sick whom he found under the bridge. After some time, more sick people came to be accommodated and there was a need for a bigger building, so he transferred to an old Carmelite monastery, which was improved and became a hospital. In 1572, with this flourishing hospital, his co-workers formed a community called the “Hospitaller Brothers”, which became the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God, with him as the leader. Many miracles happened even when he was still alive, all about saving lives and caring for the sick and needy. John of God died from pneumonia contracted while saving a drowning man. When he realized that he was dying, he went over all the accounts, revised the rules and timetable, and appointed a new leader. He died on March 8, 1550, kneeling before the altar in his hospital chapel. He was canonized on October 16, 1690 and was proclaimed patron of hospitals, nurses, the sick, mentally ill patients, book sellers and firefighters. The Order of the Hospitaller Brothers is present in 53 countries, operating more than 300 hospitals, services, and centers serving a range of medical needs in addition to mental health and psychiatry. People who commit to his mission of helping the sick, the poor and the needy count more than 45,000 members, Brothers and Co-workers, with the support of tens of thousands of benefactors and friends. “St. John of God, pray for us that like you, we may be mindful of the needs of others especially the sick, the poor and the abandoned. Am I sensitive to the needs of others, and am I willing to offer whatever help I could give?

GOSPEL POWER l APRIL 19, 2022

Tuesday within the Octave  of Easter

Gospel: Jn 20:11-18 

11Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to  look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where  the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the  feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to  them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they  have laid him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw  Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus  said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking  for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you  have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will  take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which  means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because  I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and  say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my  God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the  disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said  these things to her. 

The “holding on” that Jesus prohibits does not only have to  do with touching him (as in the Latin translation “Noli  me tangere.”) nor with clinging physically to his risen body.  Rather, Jesus corrects the misconception that, now that he is back to  life, Mary and the other disciples can resume the kind of relationship  they had with him before his passion and death. The whole process of  Jesus’ glorification includes his ascension to where he was before with  his Father. The process cannot be impeded by any attempt to restore  the old Master-disciple relationship of his pre-crucifixion ministry.  A new mode of relationship, not subject to the earthly limitations of  space and time, will be forged with the risen Christ when he sends  his Holy Spirit. But the Spirit can come only if Jesus departs. He has  been preparing his disciples for this departure even before Calvary.

 Lord Jesus, let your Holy Spirit breathe on us the breath of resurrectionlife and banish the culture of death promoted by those who persistently  oppose God. Amen

Mabuting Balita | Abril 19, 2022

Martes sa Walong Araw na Pagdiriwang ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay

Ebanghelyo: Juan 20: 11-18

Nanatili sa labas ng libingan si Maria na tumatangis. Habang tumatangis siya, yumukod siyang nakatanaw sa libingan. At may nakita siyang dalawang anghel na nakaputi na nakaupo, nasa may ulunan ang isa at ang ikalawa nama'y nasa may paanan ng kinalagakan ng bangkay ni Jesus. Sinabi sa kanya ng mga iyon: “Ale, bakit ka tumatangis?” “May kumuha sa Panginoon ko, at hindi ko alam kung saan siya inilagak.” Pagkasabi niya ng mga ito, tumalikod siya at nakita niya si Jesus na nakatayo. Ngunit hindi niya nakilalang si Jesus iyon. Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ale, bakit ka tumatangis? Sinong hinahanap mo” Sa pag-aakala niyang iyon ang hardinero, sinabi niya sa kanya: “Ginoo, kung kayo ang nagdala sa kanya, sabihin n'yo sa akin kung saan n'yo siya inilagay, at kukunin ko siya.” Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, “Maria!” Pagkaharap niya ay winika niya sa kanya sa Aramaiko: “Rabbouni” (na ang ibig sabihin ay Guro). Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Huwag mo na akong pigilin sapagkat hindi pa ako nakaaakyat sa aking Ama. Puntahan mo ang mga kapatid ko at sabihin sa kanila na: 'Paakyat ako sa Ama ko at Ama n'yo, sa Diyos ko at Diyos n'yo.'” Pumunta si Maria Magdalena, na nagbalita sa mga alagad: “Nakita ko ang Panginoon. At ito ang sinabi niya sa akin.”

Pagninilay:

Happy Easter po sa ating lahat! Si Hesus ay muling nabuhay, siya ang ating kaliwanagan! Kung usapang pag-ibig po, masarap talakayin yung “pag-momove-on.” Brother hindi naman daw talaga totoo yung time heals, sabi daw ay acceptance heals. Pag sinimulan mon ang tanggapin ang nangyari na saka ka lang daw tunay na makakapag move on. Sana all. Nang mag-ikatlong araw pagkatapos namatay ni Hesus, hapis at pighati pa rin ang nananaig sa puso ni Maria Magdalena. Wala na, tapos na ang lahat. Bagamat ang hinuha niya ay wala na--patuloy siyang dumadalaw sa libingan--maaring umaasang may susunod pang kabanata. Pero, higit sa lahat, sa kabila ng hapis at pighati sa kanyang puso, bumubukal lalo ang kanyang masidhing pag-ibig at pananabik kay Hesus. Sa muling pagkabuhay ni Hesus, minove-on na tayo ng diyos sa mga bagay na magpapahamak sa atin. Liwanag tungo sa kadiliman, Kasalanan tungo sa Dakilang pagkamahabagin ng DIyos, Kamatayan patungo sa bagong buhay na kanyang ipinanalo para sa tin. Ito ang mga pangako sa atin ng kanyang Muling Pagkabuhay. Kaya nga’t anumang taliwas at dating gawi na patuloy pa rin nating ginagawa (kadiliman, kasalanan at kamatayan) ay tanda na hindi natin lubos na tinatanggap si Hesus bilang ating Mesiyas. Kung mananatili tayo sa hapis at lumbay, hindi natin lubos na madarama ang pagpapatawad at buhay na pinanalo ni hesus para sa atin. Hari nawa tumulad tayo kay Maria Magdalena---ang kanyang masidhing pag-ibig na nagdala sa kanya, nagtawid sa kanya sa panibagong pagkakilala sa Diyos--buhay siyang lagi, kaya dapat tayong magalak! Sana po habang naglalakbay tayo sa panahong ito ng Muling Pagkabuhay, tanggapin nating lubos ang tagumpay ni Hesus. Amen.

- - Cl. Vinz Aurellano, SSP | Society of St. Paul

ST. CASIMIR l PATRON SAINT OF POLAND, LITHUANIA AND OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

Feast day: March 4

How many in our present society would consider royal nobility as unnecessary? Only someone destined by God to a life of virtues and holiness, like our saint for today, who considered royalty as extravagance. Let us ponder on the life of the Prince of Poland, son of King Casimir IV and Grand Duke of Lithuania and Queen Elizabeth of Austria. Casimir Jagiellon was born on October 3, 1458 in the Castle of Wawel, Krakow, Kingdom of Poland, and was brought up as a pious and devout Christian by his devout parents. He and his brothers studied under the tutorship of a priest and historian Fr. John Dlugosz, whose deep piety and political knowledge influenced their life. The young prince, considered the wealth and royal luxury as unreasonable and a pressure. Instead of enjoying the luxury of the court, he chose a life of devotion and asceticism. He wore simple clothes with a hair shirt underneath, spend much time in prayer and meditation on the sufferings of Jesus, and would often sleep on the ground as an act of penance. He was also very concerned of the poor in the kingdom and was deeply compassionate to those who were suffering. He even gave many of his possessions to the poor.Casimir was only 13 years old when the Hungarians asked his father to make him king in their country. Although he was hesitant, he was encouraged to help the Hungarians, who were fighting against the Turks. He accepted the offer, was crowned king, and received help from his father, but he was not successful so he returned to Poland. His father was so mad at him for his failure. After his return, he resumed his studies with Dlugosz and learned about politics from his father. In 1479, his father left Poland to attend to some state affairs in Lithuania, and left him in charge of the kingdom from 1481 to 1483. Advisers of the king and of the royal court urged him to marry, but he preferred to live a single and celibate life and spent his time in the service of God and the people of the kingdom. Casimir completed his studies at age 16 and spent most of his time with his father. In 1476, he accompanied his father to Prussia to resolve a conflict, then he moved to Vilnius. From 1479 to 1484 King Casimir attended to the affairs of Lithuania. The King tried to arrange Casimir’s marriage to the daughter of Emperor Frederick III, but he refused and preferred to remain celibate. After experiencing symptoms of tuberculosis, he foresaw that he was soon going to die. He prepared himself by deepening his devotion to God and to his neighbor. He was deeply devoted to the Virgin Mother of God and his favorite song was “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary.” He died while on his way to Lithuania on March 4, 1484, and was buried at the Vilnius cathedral with the copy of his favorite song. Pope Adrian VII canonized him in 1522. He is the patron saint of Poland, Lithuania and of young people.Many churches and chapels were built in his honor: in Poland, Lithuania, United States, Canada and United Kingdom. The Sisters of Saint Casimir are active even now in the United States. There are also centers of learning named after him, and we have a few in the Philippines. In 1984, Pope John Paul II addressed Lithuanian pilgrims commemorating the 500thanniversary of St. Casimir’s death he said: “The Church proclaimed Casimir a saint and place him before us not only to be venerated but also that we might imitate his heroic virtues and follow his examples. His witness of great faith and fervent piety continues to have special meaning for us today. His life of purity beckons you to practice your faith with courage and zeal, to reject the deceptive attractions of modern permissive society, and to live your convictions with fearless confidence and joy.”